Well Behaved Wives(10)

Maybe Shirley also saw her past self in Ruth. Perhaps it was a modicum of envy on Shirley’s part that hindered the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship, rather than hurt feelings. What else could it be?

Lillian could tell Ruth was trying to please Shirley because of the efforts she had made by coming to the etiquette class.

Shirley! She’d announced that she planned to pop in on the lesson, which might prove to be too much of a distraction. Lillian stood. “I’ll be right back, girls.” She’d head off Shirley before she could let herself in the kitchen door and sidetrack the class.

She scampered toward the kitchen. “Sunny,” she said, “when Mrs. Appelbaum arrives, ask her opinion on something to keep her in the kitchen. Whatever you do, don’t let her into the . . .”

As Lillian passed the pantry, Sunny shook her head and shifted her eyes to the right.

“Don’t let me where?” Shirley leaned against the counter.

Lillian’s neck prickled. She stopped short. Regrouped. “Shirl, what a surprise!” She kept her voice neutral. “Sunny, did you offer Mrs. Appelbaum a cold beverage?”

“Would you like some ginger ale?” Sunny pulled open the Frigidaire with arthritic hands. “We have a can of Black Cherry Wishniak soda if you’d rather. We also have grapefruit juice. It’s Mr. Diamond’s favorite. Fresh squeezed, of course.” She pointed at the pitcher of juice, closed the Frigidaire, and walked toward the dining room. “Or I could make you a cocktail if you’d like.”

Shirley touched Sunny’s arm and she stopped. “No, thank you, it’s much too early for me. But thank you for asking.” Shirley clasped and unclasped the top tortoiseshell button on her maroon cardigan, a shade so close to Lillian’s own burgundy suit. This season’s latest trend.

Sunny nodded. Smiled. Knew exactly when to back off.

When Sunny began working for her mother after Lillian was born, Sunny’s loyalty was to Anna. “Do as your mother says” and “Let your mother be” were among Sunny’s favorite sayings. Anna and Sunny had been friends since they were in high school, despite growing up on different sides of the neighborhood. They had bonded in the public library over a shared copy of the latest Nancy Drew novel set aside by the librarian for her favorite patrons. Anna and Sunny adored mysteries.

After Lillian’s mother went away, the housekeeper went to work for Lillian’s grandparents. Teenage Lillian could always count on Sunny for a diversion to help pull her out of a jam. She helped Lillian hide chicken livers and lima beans in napkins, so she didn’t have to eat them. Their conspiracies evolved and, later on, Sunny helped her disguise high school parties as library outings.

Nowadays, having Sunny in her own house a few days a week reminded Lillian of the good times with her mother and grandmother, even when Lillian got caught in a pickle, like now.

“I came to meet the girls and check on Ruth,” Shirley said.

Lillian poured herself half a jelly glass of grapefruit juice. “Everything’s fine. Ruth seems lovely.”

“Lovely? The girl who ran off with my son is not lovely.”

Enough was enough. “She ran right to your attic, Shirl. And she’s trying to fit in. Give her a chance.” Lillian’s words scratched her throat. She had rarely expressed a contrary opinion.

“She didn’t give us a chance. I’ll never be crowned.” Jewish mothers dreamed of a mezinke tanz, a Jewish ceremony honoring parents who had married off their last child. The parents would be seated on chairs in the middle of the dance floor while friends and family danced around, kissing them as they passed. Best of all, a specially made crown of flowers was placed in the mother’s hair. Every mother wanted—had earned—those flowers.

Lillian should sympathize with Shirley, mourning her moment in the spotlight, but she recalled what she assumed were Shirley’s calculated omissions.

“Why didn’t you tell me Ruth’s mother had passed away? It would have been nice to know. Did you want her here only because we both grew up without mothers?”

“I wanted her here because you’re the perfect etiquette teacher.”

Lillian flushed. Shirley, normally stingy with compliments, had backed out of her predicament with aplomb. Of course the class was why Shirley had wanted them to meet—and that was fine.

It was the secret that wasn’t.

Lillian had been caught unaware and unprepared. How had she looked? How did it make Ruth feel that Shirley hadn’t shared this information about Lillian’s past? And now Shirley wanted to check up on her?

“If it bothers you that I’m here, Lil, I’ll go,” Shirley said.

Wide-eyed, Sunny handed Shirley a tinfoil packet, puffed with something edible. “A new apple cake recipe.”

Shirley ignored the peace offering and walked through the kitchen, heading for the dining room—not the direction Lillian wanted.

“It would be rude of me not to say hello, Lillian.”

Which course to take? Lillian was stuck between her old friend and the new Diamond Girls. “Of course,” she said. A short greeting wouldn’t interfere with the controlled atmosphere Lillian had so carefully created.

Shirley stopped next to the dining room table and turned to Lillian and whispered, “I didn’t think to tell you about Ruth’s mother because it’s nothing like your situation.”